“You’re back,” she managed, as he gave her a smile full of white teeth that reminded her of a wolf. A handsome, smart wolf who’d managed to make it all the way to the chicken coop. And he had no idea she knew what he’d done.

“I didn’t want you to worry,” he said, the glint in his eyes sending a shiver through her. “And your delightful sister offered to make me coffee.”

“Did she now,” Elise said, joining her sister at the kitchen counter and giving her a sharp stare.

“I don’t want you to worry about having me in your home,” he continued, as if he could smell the fear radiating off her. “We’ll be stationed here for some time, and it won’t be long before all of France is under German control. The sooner everyone becomes used to our presence, the better.”

At this, all Elise really wanted was to fall to her knees and sob. Either that or scream profanities at him and all the other Nazis within shouting distance.

But Elise was known for her composure. For always reacting calmly and sensibly, for being reliable, and she wasn’t going to waver from that now.

“We’re just doing our best to get by and keep our heads down here,” Elise said, keeping her voice even as she turned, her smile fixed. “We’ve heard a lot of fighting nearby, and we can only hope that things settle down soon, isn’t that right, Addy?” She put her arm around her sister, dreading the news she had to tell her, not knowing how she would react.

“Rations must be very hard for you,” he said, smiling when Adelaide pulled away from Elise to take him his coffee. “I can’t imagine how careful you must have to be with food these days.”

“It’s been very hard for everyone,” Elise confessed, making herself a cup of coffee and joining her sister at the table. “We’re just lucky we have space to grow some of our own vegetables.”

His eyes were back on Addy, and it made her sick to see the way he watched her. She only hoped her sister wasn’t feeling the same toward him.

“I’ll make sure you get some extra, then,” he said. “For making me feel so welcome.”

“Really?” Addy asked, giggling when he smiled at her. “You can do that for us?”

He laughed. “There are some perks to being in my position, and good food is one of them.”